Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome back to the final term of the school year.

I hope the school holiday period has provided you and your family an opportunity to move away from remote learning routines allowing some to rest and relaxation. The changes in the restrictions over the past weeks have meant a little more freedom for families to move to different playgrounds, parks, and reserves in the community.

The holiday period also presented another first for many of us, experiencing an earthquake!

I have been left with an ingrained memory of where I was standing when an earthquake hit Melbourne. At the time, I was "riding" the vibrations of the quake in the front car park of the school! This event will add to the many stories we will be able to tell in future about the year that was 2021.

Term 4: Road map for returning to School

Over the last two weeks, the State Government has made announcements regarding students returning safely to schools for onsite learning.

Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) has released the Catholic Schools Operations Guide that steps out this plan for Catholic schools in Victoria.

As communicated briefly last week to parents, the first two weeks of the Term will remain in remote learning program mode for all students except those that require onsite supervision for students of authorised workers and vulnerable students.

The table below outlines the staged return of the year levels from Week 3, some of which are subject to vaccination target milestones and\or health advice.

I have included the arrangements for secondary schools also to assist with family organisation with older children.

The arrangements for each year level’s return to onsite learning at St Simon’s will be communicated in more detail as we approach each milestone date. We will communicate this through our normal email channels via Operoo.

COVID Safe Plan for St Simon’s School

Based on State government health advice and direction, St Simon the Apostle Primary School continues to implement a COVID Safe Plan that uses the following strategies to make the school environment as safe as possible.

Maintaining physical distancing between adults and, where possible, between adults and students.
Discouraging the congregation of people at school drop off and pick up time by having staggered times at the beginning and end of the school day.
All people 12 years or older are required to wear a fitted face mask indoors and outdoors. (except in the act of teaching or care of students where the mask is hindering the ability to effectively communicate)
Based on health advice, all students are advised (not required) to wear a face mask.
Density limits to common indoor areas (1 person per 4m2)
Only essential visitors and personnel to be on the school premises (excludes pick up and drop off students by parents\carers)
Continuing to keep doors and windows open in classrooms and learning spaces to maintain natural ventilation.
All school staff, essential visitors, and onsite personnel must comply with the State government’s COVID19 Vaccination mandate.
Continue to practice good hygiene, including hand washing or sanitising hands
Keeping contact surfaces clean.
Ensuring all unwell staff and students remain at home and get tested if showing any symptoms of COVID19.
QR Code Check-in for all staff and visitors to the school site for contact tracing purposes.

All COVID safe practices and strategies will be continually monitored and adjusted as required.

Staff Arrangements - Term 4

This Term, Mrs Bianca Gilling commenced parental leave as she expects the arrival of a baby in the coming weeks. Mr Andrew Puls will be shifting from three days a week to a full-time role to teach PE on a Monday and be the classroom teacher in 6Y on a Friday.

Ms Brooke Felsinger will be teaching PE on Tuesday and Wednesday for Year 6, Year 1 and Year 2.

We also welcome Mrs Adina Atmadja and Mrs Deepa Highland as Learning Support Officers to St Simon’s School. Adina and Deepa will support the onsite supervision program over the next couple of weeks and transition into various classroom support activities as students return to onsite learning over the next month.

School Review Term 4

The “normal” work of schools has continued to prevail in the background, despite the challenges of the COVID19 and lockdowns, and as such, the school staff have been working through the important work of School Review and Compliance this year.

Every four years Catholic schools in Victoria are required to engage in a school review and improvement process. This Term, an independent school reviewer will be working with the School to ensure compliance and help give advice for continual school improvement.

Parent representatives from Interim School Advisory Council and Parents’ Association will have an opportunity to meet with the school reviewer to give input into the school improvement consultation process.

At the end of the school review process, a new school improvement plan will be developed and shared with the school community. I look forward to sharing this with the school community in due course.

Plenary Council of Australia

This week marks a significant moment in Australia’s Catholic Church history with the commencement of the 5th Plenary Council of Australia. A plenary council is a significant process of consultation and engagement between church leaders and the faithful.

I have included a short two-minute video that explains what the Plenary is all about as well as the following resources and materials.

This is a great opportunity as the Australian Catholic Church to consider how we will continue to share the message of the Gospel and God’s love all.

Finally, staff are looking forward to safely welcoming students back to the school site in the coming weeks.

God bless

Tom Wursthorn

Principal

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